BEIRUT -- Japan survived a hostile "away" crowd, an early penalty and a second-half barrage by Saudi Arabia on Sunday to win the Asian Cup final 1-0 on a neatly taken goal from Kyoto midfielder Shigeyoshi Mochizuki.
Philippe Troussier's side, booed throughout by a capacity crowd of 49,500 at Beirut Sports City Stadium, almost gifted the Saudis a 10th-minute lead when Mochizuki fouled midfielder Talal al-Meshal in the box. But striker Hamzah Idris dragged his penalty well wide.
The Japanese, who had crushed the defending champions 4-1 in the group stage, responded to their good fortune with Jubilo Iwata striker Naohiro Takahara coming close twice, before Mochizuki swept in a free-kick from Shunsuke Nakamura in the 30th minute.